The Cruise of the "Cachalot" Round the World After Sperm Whales. Frank Thomas Bullen
BOUND Adrift in New Bedford—I get a ship—A
motley crowd—"Built by the mile, and cut off as you want 'em"—Mistah
Jones—Greenies—Off to sea.
CHAPTER II—PREPARING FOR ACTION Primitive steering-gear—Strange
drill—Misery below—Short commons—Goliath rigs the
"crow's-nest"—Useful information—Preparing for war—Strange weapons—A
boat-load.
CHAPTER III—FISHING BEGINS The cleanliness of a whale-ship—No
skulking—Porpoise-fishing—Cannibals—Cooking operations—Boat-drill—A
good look-out—"Black-fishing"—Roguery in all trades—Plenty of fresh
beef—The nursery of American whalemen.
CHAPTER IV—BAD WEATHER Nautical routine—The first gale—Comfort
versus speed—A grand sea-boat—The Sargasso Sea—Natural history
pursuits—Dolphin—Unconventional fishing—Rumours of a visit to the
Cape Verdes—Babel below—No allowance, but not "full and plenty"—Queer
washing—Method of sharing rations—The "slop-shop" opened—Our
prospects.
CHAPTER V—ACTUAL WARFARE. OUR FIRST WHALE Premonitions—Discussion
on whaling from unknown premisses—I wake in a fright—Sperm whales
at last—The war begins—Warning—We get fast—and get loose—In
trouble—an uncomfortable situation—No Pity-Only one whale—Rigging the
"cutting-stage"—Securing the whale alongside.
CHAPTER VI—"DIRTY WORK FOR CLEAN MONEY" Goliath in trouble—Commence
"cutting-in"—A heavy head—A tank of spermaceti—Decks running
with oil—A "Patent" mincing-machine—Extensive cooking—Dangerous
work—Three tuns of oil—A horrible mess—A thin-skinned monster—A fine
mouth of teeth.
CHAPTER VII—GETTING SOUTHWARD Captain Slocum's
amenities—Expensive beer—St. Paul's Rocks—"Bonito"—"Showery"
weather—Waterspouts—Calms—A friendly finback—A disquisition on
whales by Mistah Jones—Flying-fishing.
CHAPTER VIII—ABNER'S WHALE Abner in luck—A big "fish" at last—A feat
of endurance—A fighting whale—The sperm whale's food—Ambergris—A
good reception—Hard labour—Abner's reward—"Scrimshaw".
CHAPTER IX—OUR FIRST CALLING-PLACE A forced march—Tristan
d'Acunha—Visitors—Fresh provisions—A warm welcome—Goliath's
turn—a feathered host—Good gear—A rough time—Creeping
north—Uncertainty—"Rule of thumb"—navigation—The Mozambique Channel.
CHAPTER X—A VISIT TO SOME STRANGE PLACES Tropical thunderstorms—A
"record" day's fishing—Cetacean frivolities—Mistah Jones moralizes—A
snug harbour—Wooding and watering—Catching a turtle—Catching a
"Tartar"—A violent death—A crooked jaw—Aldabra Island—Primeval
inhabitants—A strange steed—"Pirate" birds—Good eggs—Green
cocoa-nuts—More turtle—A school of "kogia".
CHAPTER XI—ROUND THE COCOS AND SEYCHELLES We encounter a "cyclone"—A
tremendous gust—a foundering ship—To anchor for repairs—The
Cocos—Repairing damages—Around the Seychelles—A "milk" sea—A
derelict prahu—A ghastly freight—A stagnant sea.
CHAPTER XII—WHICH TREATS OF THE KRAKEN "Eyes and no eyes" at sea—Of
big mollusca—The origin of sea-serpent stories—Rediscovery of the
"Kraken"—A conflict of monsters—"The insatiable nightmares of the
sea"—Spermaceti running to waste—The East Indian maze.
CHAPTER XIII—OFF TO THE JAPAN GROUNDS A whale off Hong Kong—The
skipper and his "'bomb-gun"—Injury to the captain—Unwelcome
visitors—The heathen Chinee—We get safe off—"Death of Portagee
Jim"—The Funeral—The Coast of Japan—Port Lloyd—Meeting of
whale-ships.
CHAPTER XIV—LIBERTY DAY—AND AFTER Liberty day—I foregather with
a "beach-comber"—A big fight—Goliath on the war-path—A
court-martial—Wholesale flogging—a miserable crowd—Quite a fleet of
whale-ships—I "raise" a sperm whale—Severe competition—An unfortunate
stroke—The skipper distinguishes himself.
CHAPTER XV—WHICH COMES UNCOMFORTABLY NEAR BEING THE LAST I come
to grief—Emulating Jonah—Sharing a flurry—A long spell of
sick-leave—The whale's "sixth sense"—Off to the Kuriles—Prepare for
"bowhead" fishing—The Sea of Okhotsk—Abundant salmon—The "daintiness"
of seamen.
CHAPTER XVI—"BOWHEAD" FISHING Difference between whales—Popular ideas
exploded—The gentle mysticetus—Very tame work—Fond of tongue—Goliath
confides in me—An awful affair—Captain Slocum's death—"Not Amurath an
Amurath succeeds"—I am promoted.
CHAPTER XVII—VISIT TO HONOLULU Towards Honolulu—Missionaries and their
critics—The happy Kanaka—Honolulu—A pleasant holiday.
CHAPTER XVIII—ON THE "LINE" GROUNDS I get my opportunity—A
new harpooner—Feats under the skipper's eye—Two whales on one
line—Compliments Heavy towage—A grand haul.
CHAPTER XIX—EDGING SOUTHWARD Monotony—A school of blackfish—A boat
ripped in half—A multitude of sharks—A curious backbone—Christmas
Day—A novel Christmas dinner—A find of ambergris.
CHAPTER XX—"HUMPBACKING" AT VAU VAU "Gamming" again—a
Whitechapel rover—arrive at Vau Vau—Valuable friends—a Sunday
ashore—"Hollingside"—The natives at church—Full-dress—Very
"mishnally"—Idyllic cruising—Wonderful mother-love—A mighty feast.
CHAPTER XXI—PROGRESS OF THE "HUMPBACK" SEASON A fruitless chase—Placid
times—a stirring adventure—a vast cave—Unforeseen company—A night
of terror—We provide a feast for the sharks—the death of Abner—An
impressive ceremony—an invitation to dinner—Kanaka cookery.
CHAPTER XXII—FAREWELL TO VAU VAU Ignorance of